Inn-to-Inn Guided Canoe Trips in the south of France, the Belgium Ardennes, the Garden of England and Vermont, USA

Save The Boundary Waters

The Boundary Waters

They are a region of wilderness straddling the Canada–United States border between Ontario and Minnesota, in the region just west of Lake Superior. This region is part of the Superior National Forest in northeastern Minnesota, and in Canada it includes La Verendrye and Quetico Provincial Parks in Ontario. Voyageurs National Park in Minnesota may also be considered part of the Boundary Waters. The name “Boundary Waters” is often used in the U.S. to refer specifically to the U.S. Wilderness Area protecting its southern extent, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

The Boundary Waters region is characterized by a vast network of waterways and bogs within a glacially-carved landscape of Precambrian bedrock covered in thin soils and boreal forests. The Boundary Waters is a popular destination for recreationalists pursuing camping, canoeing, fishing, as well as for those simply looking for natural scenery and relaxation. The area is one of several distinct regions of Minnesota.

Sulfide-Ore Copper Mining

The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness could suffer from dangerous sulfide-ore copper mining proposed on the edge of the Wilderness.

The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is a beloved canoeing, fishing and hiking destination, known around the world for its wild landscape, deep silence and opportunities for solitude. Those qualities are threatened by Twin Metals mining company’s proposal to drill hundreds of wells as it seeks to develop a massive sulfide-ore copper mine on the edge of the Boundary Waters.

Check out this eight-minute film by Nate Ptacek, Paddle to DC: A Quest for Clean Water, which follows 2014 National Geographic Explorers of the Year Dave and Amy Freemanon on a 101-day, human-powered journey from Ely, Minnesota, to Washington, D.C. Along their journey, Dave and Amy reached thousands of people to educate them about the threat to the Boundary Waters. They collected thousands of signatures on “Sig,” their petition canoe, and delivered the message to the decision makers.

Campaign to Save

One of the best ways we reach new supporters and inspire action is through social media. If you are on social media, follow the Campaign to Save the Boundary Waters on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to keep up to date on the issue and help us spread our message online.

If you’d like to volunteer for the campaign sign up here. We can use your help wherever no matter where you are located!

“Last year we paddled all the way from Ely, Minnesota, to Washington, D.C., to share the value of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area with as many people as we could. All along the way, we met thousands of people who love the Wilderness, but who didn’t know it was threatened by sulfide-ore copper mining, and didn’t know how to help. We brought the message to decision makers in Washington, D.C., and now we need your help to make our voices louder.

Please ask your friends and family to sign our petition to save the Boundary Waters. Share this petition link with them:

When we enter the Boundary Waters, we are always awestruck by the beauty of the Wilderness lakes — the serenity and peacefulness that you can find here. There are hundreds of miles of canoe trails that allow you to explore the 1.1 million acres of the Boundary Waters. When you explore a place like this it gives you an appreciation for why clean air, fresh water and wild places are important.

We know many people across the country love the Boundary Waters, but they don’t know that destructive sulfide-ore copper mining has been proposed on the edge of the Wilderness and along waterways that flow into the heart of the Boundary Waters. We need to reach those people and add their voices to our call to save this place.

I hope you’ll help us by forwarding our petition to your friends and family. Here’s the link, and below is a sample message you could include.

Our lives and our livelihoods, along with many on the wilderness edge, depend on the preservation of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area for years to come. Thank you for helping us save the Wilderness we love.“

Dave & Amy Freeman in Ely, MN

Multinational mining companies have already begun exploratory drilling within a quarter mile of the Boundary Waters and along lakes and rivers that flow directly into the heart of the wilderness. We need your support to make sure we have the resources to keep building this historic effort and to win permanent protection for this national treasure.

This proposal is just the tip of the iceberg. We’re counting on your continued support to make sure we protect the clean water and unspoiled forests of the Boundary Waters for this and future generations.

In the Archive

About Green River CAnoes

Green River Canoes Ltd runs Inn-to-Inn Guided Canoe Trips in the south of France and the Belgium Ardennes.
These holidays are in the Ardennes, Perigord, Lot, Dordogne, Ardeche and Tarn regions with beautiful easy rivers, fabulous scenery, relaxing accommodation and lovely food and wine.